FLOOD WARNING Click county for more information: Osage, Ottawa, Rogers, Tulsa, Washington         FIRE WARNING Click county for more information: Woodward        

Former Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners manager Mike Hargrove isn't a native Oklahoman, but some of the best years of his life were spent in Alva as a three-sport star at Northwestern Oklahoma State. After college, Hargrove spent time playing for the Liberal BeeJays, a semipro team in Kansas.

Dubbed "The Human Rain Delay” because of his routine at the plate, Hargrove made his Major League Baseball debut with Texas in 1974, earning AL Rookie of the Year honors. Hargrove played for Texas, San Diego and Cleveland before retiring in 1985. He later became the Indians manager, guiding the Indians to World Series appearances in 1995 and 1997.

Hargrove moved on to Baltimore, then to Seattle where he spent nearly three seasons. In the midst of an eight-game win streak, he suddenly left the Mariners on July 1. He was the first manager to leave a big league team on a win streak that long since 1900. Hargrove returned to Northwestern Oct. 27 as the school honored him by retiring his number.

A lot of different things go through your head coming back to Northwestern. I came back for a football game six or seven years ago but I didn't see much of the campus because it was a cold and blustery day. It's good to see the school thriving and doing a lot of progressive things. I saw a lot of the places in town I almost got in trouble at that aren't around anymore. It brings back a lot of memories, and 99 percent of them were really good memories.

Probably the best part of college are the friendships I made. I had a lot of really good friends in high school, and they're still friends, but no where near as close as the friends I made here. There's nobody like the friends you make in college. I heard that before I came to school and couldn't have imagined it would be true, but it's been the case. You know people are good friends when you feel like you just saw them yesterday.

It was difficult to leave Major League Baseball. I'm not sure I wouldn't do it again. You never say never. I think there's some point where I might want to do that in the right situation and right place. I'm taking it easy and enjoying my kids and grandkids. I'm trying to get used to this idea of not doing anything.

I was known for taking a lot of time between pitches. I was probably before my time because you see golfers doing that all the time. We were in Toronto and someone in the press box said we had our own human rain delay. It had nothing to do with psyching out a pitcher. If I found out it bothered a pitcher, there were some pitchers that would yell at me or stew around, I would take my time, but it wasn't done with the idea of distracting a pitcher. It had everything to do with getting me ready to do my job.

The best part about managing was managing the game and being around the players. The worst part was dealing with the media because you had to answer the same questions and be careful how you answered them. I got real tired of trying to be careful how I answered questions. I never managed through the papers. If I needed to talk to players I talked to them. I think there were fans that didn't understand, and perceived that as being laid back but the real work done behind closed doors.

The most interesting player I managed was probably Albert Belle because there were so many contradictions there. He wasn't the toughest by any stretch. When he played, he played. His problems were before or after the game problems. He was probably the most interesting and the most complicated. The most enjoyable were guys like Sandy Alomar, Jim Thome and Adrian Beltre. Of all the players I've been around, 99 percent of them were absolute joys.

I was drafted out of Liberal. Sharon and I talked a lot about giving back to the places and the people who were influential in our careers, the places that gave us the opportunities to have what we have. It came up, and at first it was kind of a joke. Not really a joke but it wasn't real serious. Then all of the sudden I thought this was a way and a chance to give back. It's easier to give back with money, but it's cheaper to give back with time. I'm looking forward to it.

Sharon and my brother are my biggest heroes. When I finally grew up, I wanted to be like him. Sharon amazes me every day when I watch her interact with people. The patience she has is amazing. To be able to do what I've done in life, I couldn't have done it without her. Without her support and her direction it would have been a much different deal.